LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1807, 5 December 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE WAX" OF THE WORLD.

•What!" • Your daughter and I are engaged, and we—'

'JSngageell Young man, ha-va you loßt your senses ? Do you know what you are talking about?' • Carrie says—' ' Never mind what she says. Yon can't have my consent, nor my daughter. Do you understand ?' ' I do, sir.' And Bernard Holm turned resolutely toward the door. Mr Weltall looked, after the retreating form of the young man with on impatient frown, then suddenly called him back. ' What have you to support a wife with V ' I haven't much yet, but we are both young.' ' What business do yon intend to follow ?' 'Mr Weltall, I have an ambition which I have entertained since I was a child, but I have never mentioned it to any one, fearing I might fall, and then—' ' Are you doing anything at present ?' • I am employed as an engraver In a jewellery store, sir.' ' What wages ?' • Forty dollars a month.' • Is that your ambition to become a skilful engraver ?' • No, sir ; it is not. I have always—' • Well, Mr Holm, you yourself must see that it would not do to consign my daughter to you without further notice. But what is this ambition of yours ?' *lt is to become a painter, Bir ; an artist.' ' Indeed ! Have you ever painted anything ?' •Yes, sir, quite a number of pieces.' ' How much will one of your paintings bring ?' • Not very much, I am afraid; I have not sold any as yet.' Of almost aldermanic proportions, |Mr Weltall impressed"oneJ*with a sense of inflexible solidity. It was his boast that there was no nomense about him. Being then the wealthiest and most imposing personage for miles around, his astonishment was_ compete when Bernard Holm came to inform him he and his daughter were betrothed. After recovering in a measure from his amazement, his first impulse was to utterly crush the young man's hopes, and put an effectual stop to any further development of this love affair, of which he had hitherto been ignorant. But when Mr Weltall saw r.hat Bernard turned away with an air of defiance, the thought suddenly flashed into his mind that he would not be likely to show himself defiant unless supported by the young lady's love. The wily Mr Woltall therefore called Bernard Holm back,_ knowing that if he acted in a more conciliatory manner, any immediate action contrary to his wishes would not in all probability betaken ; and putting upon probation, as it were, time would be gained, and with time muny things might come to his help. Why Mr Weltall was so opposed to Bernard as a son-in-law will be readily understood when it is known that he was poor, and nobody, particularly, in Valley thro pe. His poverty might have boen forgiven had he shown himself eager and successful in working out of it. But he was not. He idled his time away in sketching, drawing and painting fjolish piotures. He would never amount to anything. That was the verdict of Valloythrope. By and by, jwhen the intoxication of money-getting begins to subside- in a measure, other and more humanising influences are allowed to creep in, and are reoogaised, Valleythrope, how-

ever, had not yet reached this stage in its march toward complete civilisation, and who was an artist by nature and by praotioe, was sadly out of place. Bernard Holm, with an aged housekeeper, lived by himself in a smill, white cottage left him by his parents, who were both dea i. Ho was somewhat below the medium height, with dark hair and eyes. That he should be the successful wooer of Carrie W« Itall, the accomplished heiress, the acknowledged belle of Vallythorpe, would have been regarded as too absurd a bit of gossip for even the most absurd talebearer to hawk about.

Miss Weltall was a magnificent young lady.

I use the word ' magnificent' because I can think of no other adjective that describes her so fully. She was tall, a trifler taller than her lover, and splendidly proportioned. Her features were regular and clearly cul, her complexion was light, while her eyes, which were large, had the habit of looking atone with a thrilling directness, and lur hair was as black as midnight. Her will was imperious, even more inflexible than her father's.

Carrie Weltall became impatient with the young painter for not embracing the opportunity of showing what he was capable of, with more alacrity; especially, too, when the prize of success was herself.

In a little more than half a year the painting was finished and on it* way to an Eastern city to compete for a place on the walls of the exhibition rooms. A few weeks of feverish waiting, then came the decision of the judges, which was unfavorable ' I knew just how it would turn out before I sent it,' Bernard said.

'Try it again,'answered his bethrothed ; ' never give np till you succeed.' B-mard's Bpirits were low for a long time after. Mr Weltall soon heard of our artist's failure, and was not slow in summoning the unfortunate man before him. The daughter unforlunately was present at this iutcrview, and objected to having an affair in which she was one of the principals thus summarily disposed of without anything to say in the matter. Hitherto she had remained Bilent; but now sho rose with flashing eyes and burning spot on either cheek, and vehemently declared that she would marry Mr Holm if he would have her in spite of all he could do or say to the contrary. Mr Weltall grew hot a-d violent at this, as on 9 might suppoEe, and declared in his turn that she might do so if fhe wished, but she would no longer be a daughter of his. The Weltall blood was subject to violent commotions at times, and it boiled in the veins of both father and daughter now. Carrie turned and looked her father full in the face.

'Good-bye, then,' said she hotly, 'you have no right to dictate where my affections arc concerned. Come, Mr Holm,' and they went out together. ' Where will you po now,' Bernard said. ' I don't know,' was the short reply. ' I will Ull you,' said he, ' let us be married immediately ; then you will come home with me.' He had been roused, too, and when occasion called for it ho was not destitute of courage, but would brave the lion in his den, or walk up to the shotted cannon's mouth in time of battle—for ages the acknowledged test of bravery in a man. ' Very well, let us go over to the Rev. Mr Turtle's.' The Rev. Mr Turtle was the parson at whose church she attended worship. *My dear, I believe you would make a Joan of Arc,' said Bernard, but she took no notice of the remark.

In lees than an hour they were husband and wife. After the ceremony was over, and he had time to consider what had happened, the Rev. Mr Turtle was so astonished that he gave his best great coat, with his last sermons in one of the pockets, to a tramp who happened to come along asking alms ; then he told his wife

That night Mr Weltall's home was a dismal and cheerless place to the choleric old man, who was left alone with his wealth and his evil spirit. ' What a pity,' said friends and acquaintances, ' what a pity that she should throw away her prospects in this mad way.' And they shook their heads mournfully. The young couple spent the first part cf their honeymoon happily and contentedly at Mr Holm's modest home ;" but when the honeymoon waned, the sting of failure, continually in Bernard's mind, became sharper and sharper, and finally worked its legitimate result; he was seized with brain fever, which lasted a long time.

' I suppose Mr Weltall has come to the rescue aftor all,' said Bernard one day, '' what money I had must have been used up long ago.' ' But how have you—' ' You musn't talk ; the doctor has forbidden it, you know. But if you will listen I will tell you what has happened while you were ill.'

' I am all attention ; may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I interrupt you.' ' Well, when I saw that our fortune was fast dwindling away, I wrote a note to my father stating how we were situated, and as my anger toward him had left me I asked him to send me some money, but —' ' And he—'

'Be careful of your tongue, sir; it must be cleaving to the roof of your mouth now.' ' Proceed, please; I'll be as mum as an Egyptian 3000 years old, till you are through.' ' But it seemed my father was as angry as ever, and instead of remitting the needed help, he said he did not lend money to strangers without security.' ' The bru—'

' Your tongue, lir, your tongue, I am not through yet. Not long after that the bank with which he was connected failed, and he was left without a penny in the world. When his money was gone his friends deserted him—he suffered greatly. My heart bled for him, as in ten days he had grown ten years older. I could not endure to think he should go as a beggar among strangers, and invited him to come here and live with us—he is here now.'

An expression of vexation passed over Bernard's facp, but he said nothing, ' You won't be vexed, my dearie V his wife said, in answer to his expression. •He is an old broken down man —the truth is, his mind is affected, He is very quiet, and keeps out of everybody's way as mush as possible.' ' Oh, well, let him stay, and welcome; but he did not show much pity on us when we were in trouble But now tell me from what sonrce you have been drawing your supplies.' ' Do you remember that short story which was published in our magazine not long after we were married ? You mentioned its having such a peculiar title, yon know.' 1 1 remember it, but what has that to do with my question V ' You said you thought it was quite good, didn't you ?' ' I believe so, but what —' 'I wrota that story.' ' You 1' 'l.' ' Well, if that ian't enough to astonish an oyster!' * I was paid for it, too,' she continued, a fine color coming into her face ; ' and the publishers wrote me they should be glad to publish and pay for anything I might be pleased to send them ' * And you never told me anything about it?"

' I wished to surprise you some day. I had sent them a number of articles before you were taken sick, and while you were ill I also managed to send one occasionally. There's where the money has come from. Bernard could only look at her in silence, but his face expressed the feelings he could not utter in words. He turned his head away—a mist was gathering before his eyes. The young wife stole to his side, and, kissing him on the forehead, placed a leteer in his hand,

'This,' she said, 'came while you were ill. I was sorely tempted to break it, but withstood the temptation.' The following la the letter they read together : • Mr Holm—Dear Sir, —I write to infirm you that I have received au order of 1000 dollars for your painting of the " Two Influences." I shall hold the picture subject to your order. • Allow mo to congratulate you on your great success. Yours is a remarkable paint ing. To paint two faces exactly alike in every feature as these in your picture are, and still to represent love to our fellow-men, charity and unselSshness in one, and hardness in that of the other, is a great attempt, worthy of the efforts of genius, and such as only genius could accomplish. If this painting were mine I should call one of the twins the Bank President, and the other the Honest Man, I am authorised to offor

you 2000 dollars for your next work of art, leaving the choice of subject to yourself. ' Yours truly, ' p. b; maek. ' P.P.—The thought in your, picture was accidentally discovered by a person who> wish sto buy while locking over rejected paintings. The judges, I am sorry to say, had failed to understand the meaning of the work. « P. B. M.' It was not many months after this that Mr Weltall's sorrow and affl ction ended in that deep sleep that has no morning. He lies among the flowers, and the birds sang to him—his once neglected friend.?.